Using Information From ERIC to Solve Educational Problems. A Resource Module for Teacher Education.

Houston, W. Robert

This module is designed to assist teacher educators, prospective teachers, and practitioners to become more familiar with the Educational Resources Information Center (ERIC). It is oriented toward the solution of educational problems and demonstrates how to use ERIC for this purpose. It consists of both an instructor-directed learning unit and an independent learning unit, which provides the student with an opportunity to work on a particular problem using ERIC resources. Part I, the Instructor Guide, contains descriptions of information available in three ERIC publications: Resources in Education (RIE), Current Index to Journals in Education (CIJE), and the Thesaurus of ERIC Descriptors. A step-by-step description is given of how to conduct an ERIC manual search and of how to work with an information specialist to complete an ERIC computer search. The unit is designed so that information may be presented via transparencies and group lecture methods. Complementing this unit are a script for transparency presentation, two participant tests, and a simulation exercise. Part II, the Instructor-directed Learning Unit, contains masters which may be duplicated for participant use. These include a participant guide called "Securing Information Through ERIC", participant tests and unit evaluation forms, and masters from which transparencies may be made. Part III is an Independent Learning Unit which may be used through a self-instructional, individualized approach. Included are masters for the participant guide of the Independent Learning Unit and a participant evaluation form. The fourth part of the module contains information on directories of ERIC search services, bibliographies, and other resources. (JD)